倒置法:在汉语中,定语修饰语和状语修饰语往往位于被修饰语之前;在英语中,许多修饰语常常位于被修饰语之后,因此翻译时往往要把原文的语序颠倒过来。倒置法通常用于英译汉, 即对英语长句按照汉语的习惯表达法进行前后调换,按意群或进行全部倒置,原则是使汉语译句安排符合现代汉语论理叙事的一般逻辑顺序。有时倒置法也用于汉译英。
如:
(1) At this moment, through the wonder of telecommunications, more people are seeing and hearing what we say than on any other occasions in the whole history of the world.
此时此刻,通过现代通信手段的奇迹,看到和听到我们讲话的人比整个世界历史上任何其他这样的场合都要多。(部分倒置)
(2) I believe strongly that it is in the interest of my countrymen that Britain should remain an active and energetic member of the European Community.
我坚信,英国依然应该是欧共体中的一个积极的和充满活力的成员,这是符合我国人民利益的。(部分倒置)
(3) Great changes have taken place in China since the introduction of the reform and opening policy.
改革开放以来,中国发生了巨大的变化。(全部倒置)